Governors Must Certify Jobs Before We Make Payment – Umahi

Dave Umahi, minister of Works, has said that contractors handling all federal roads will not be paid their money except state governors where such jobs are done certify them as being of high quality.

Umahi stated this in Aba while carrying out inspection of Osisioma to Alaoji axis of Enugu Port Harcourt Express Way being handled by Arab Contractors.

He said that governors of various states where Federal works are being carried out should always inspect the jobs to ensure that contractors meet the specifications.

Umahi said except governors report to his office on the quality of job done in their states, no payment would be made.

The minister frowned at the menace of street traders who have taken over the completed part of the Road in Aba and directed Tony Onwubiko, the Federal Controller of Works, Abia State to liaise with Governor Alex Otti to ensure that the traders are flushed out from the expressway for easy flow of traffic.

He equally decried the burning of tyres on the road and also the dumping of refuse on the median by Aba residents.

“People drive against traffic. They use the completed road as park, trading and dumping of refuse. We will not like after Federal Government had spent so much here, we see people building and trading on the road,” he said.

The Minister expressed satisfaction with the job done by Arab Contractors.

He noted that the project was first awarded 10 years ago but was yet to be completed due to cost of construction materials.

“That is why we are asking, can we go for concrete that is 95 percent locally sourced?”

Tony Onwubiko, the Federal Controller of Works, earlier said that the project covers about 57Km from Abia Tower in Umuahia to Railway crossing at Alaoji in Osisioma Local Government Area.